How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking

Common public speaking fears include:

• Fear of your mind going blank
• Fear of failure or embarrassment
• Fear of the unexpected or something going wrong during your speech
• Fear that you’re not as competent as you appear to be
• Fear of being judged or of imposter syndrome
• Fear of being watched, being in the spotlight, and having all eyes on you

What causes fear of public speaking?

• Childhood trauma (This could be specifically related to public speaking, for example, a bad experience speaking in class or being bullied, or it could be something seemingly unrelated.)
• Past experience as an adult (For example, a presentation gone wrong, or your mind going blank during a meeting at work.)
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of experience
• Sharing new ideas or presenting in front of an audience that you aren’t comfortable or familiar with

Common symptoms of fear of public speaking include:

• Pressure in your chest or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath or your voice shaking
• Trembling hands or sweaty palms
• Nausea
• Mind going blank or racing thoughts
• Trouble sleeping

Fear of Public Speaking Statistics

According to communications expert Nick Morgan in Forbes, 80% of people suffer from a fear of public speaking, with 10% of people experiencing extreme panic or terror. (He also points out that 10% of the population genuinely enjoy speaking in public.)

Interestingly, many celebrities and famous figures also share this fear, including Adele, Thomas Jefferson, Mahatma Gandhi, Julia Roberts, Abraham Lincoln, and Sir Richard Branson.

How Hypnosis Works

Anyone who’s enjoyed watching a movie (vs. analytically thinking about the technology of how the movie is projected onto your television or movie screen), reached the zone state when running or working out, or lulled a child to sleep with a bedtime story, has used similar techniques to those used in Hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a state of focused awareness and a way to pay attention to your own sources of internal guidance and resources (which of course, could be extremely helpful when giving a work presentation).

Discover more ways Hypnosis can help, what to expect, how to maximize its positive effects, and clear up some misconceptions about Hypnosis.

Can Hypnosis Help You Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking?

Yes, I’ve worked with many people over the years who’ve successfully used Hypnosis to overcome their fear of public speaking.

Benefits to Look Forward to:

• Feel more confident and self-assured.
• Stay calm and think clearly under pressure.
• Speak naturally instead of overthinking every word.
• Shift your hyper-aware focus on yourself to your audience and message.
• Access your intuition, especially when answering unexpected questions.
• Ease physical symptoms such as a racing heart, pressure in your chest, or a shaky voice or hands.

Once you’ve overcome your fear of public speaking, Hypnosis can help you with peak performance in other areas of your life. Many professional athletes use Hypnosis for this purpose.

Work with Me

Whether you’re giving a presentation, leading a meeting, interviewing for a new position, or speaking with your boss, it’s possible to feel calm and confident without relying on medication.

While some people choose medication to help manage the physical symptoms of public speaking anxiety, Hypnosis works differently.

Rather than just getting you through the moment, Hypnosis addresses the underlying patterns contributing to the fear. You’ll also learn personalized Self-Hypnosis techniques you can use whenever you need them.

Benefits of Hypnosis Include:

• Feel calmer without relying on medication to get through presentations
• Learn skills you can use for the rest of your life, without medication-related side effects
• Resolve past negative experiences with public speaking
• Shift your focus from worrying about yourself to confidently sharing your message
• Transform tunnel vision into an expansive coaching state where you intuitively know the answers
• Slow your heartbeat and steady your hands and voice naturally so that you can convey your message calmly and effectively
• Feel fully present and create a genuine connection with your audience

My goal isn’t to just help you get through your next presentation. It’s to help you become someone who approaches speaking with greater calm, confidence, and trust in yourself.

After more than 15 years of doing this work, I’ve found the best place to start is with a focused 30-day program. It gives you the opportunity to make meaningful progress, reinforce the changes you’re experiencing, and personalize the process based on how you respond.

Your one-on-one virtual Soul-Powered Breakthrough Program is personalized for you.

Two women may both struggle with public speaking, but what’s driving the fear—and what helps each of them move beyond it—is usually different. That’s why every program is tailored to your specific goals, challenges, and strengths.

You’ll also learn personalized Self-Hypnosis techniques to use before presentations, meetings, interviews, or any situation where you want to feel calm, clear, and confident under pressure.

Many women like to take the Self-Hypnosis tools and techniques and create a Pre-Performance Protocol to help you alleviate anxiety and get in the right mindset as a sort of “warm-up” before your talk or presentation.

Everyone changes differently, which is why I created my virtual Soul-Powered Breakthrough 30-Day Program. It gives us the opportunity to personalize the work to you, build on the progress you’re making, and teach you practical tools you can continue using whenever you need them.

Many clients notice a shift after their very first session, while others experience more gradual changes as they practice the techniques and begin applying them in real-life situations.

Wondering whether Hypnosis wears off? Read more about secondary gain and why some people revisit old patterns.

Explore the 1:1 Virtual Program

Here are a few examples from clients:

• An up-and-coming leader preparing for a pivotal presentation at a major news network
• An entrepreneur tasked with delivering a memorable wedding toast
• A high-achieving woman navigating challenging work negotiations

Each found Hypnosis to be a powerful tool to transform their fear of public speaking.

Big Presentation at Work

I wanted to let you know that my big presentation went incredibly well. 

In particular, you asked for my subconscious mind to choose a specific way to make me successful in the situation. What came to mind was to “choose confidence,” regardless of how I was feeling in advance of the meeting. I also had fun reminding myself to leave my inner critic tucked into bed at home. The tools from our sessions helped me ride along with any anxiety, accept it, and keep it at a manageable level. –J.L.

Wedding Speech

Wanted to let you know my wedding weekend went splendidly!  With your help, I was able to truly savor and enjoy every moment with minimal anxiety.
When I had to speak, everything flowed effortlessly and naturally.  People came up afterwards and told me I absolutely nailed the speech.
–R.R.

Confidence With Salary Negotiations

I went into my agency to negotiate a raise, and it was easier than ever! I felt confident and relaxed without having to try too hard. —T.E.

Back to my personal experience using Hypnosis for public speaking…

Several years ago, I was given an award for my book of poems and I had to read from my work at the awards ceremony.

It should have been exciting, but every time it crossed my mind, my stomach filled with dread.

Unlike the examples I shared above, this time I was a Hypnotist. I’d been using it for years helping hundreds of clients, now was the time to walk my talk.

One self-hypnosis technique in particular became my go-to: EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping). It’s actually one of my all-time favorites to share with clients.

Every time I thought about the upcoming reading and felt that deep dread in the pit of my stomach, I did a round or two of EFT.

I tapped on everything I was worried about: fear of failure, being judged, not being good enough, freezing up, stumbling over my words…

Finally, it was the night of the ceremony and it was my turn. I approached the podium, adjusted the microphone, and looked at the audience.

Then the weirdest thing happened.

Instead of deep dread, I found myself savoring the moment.

Spotting familiar faces, including a well-known poet, a favorite professor, some close friends, I felt incredibly grateful for this opportunity to read my poems and share my work.

It was bizarre. I felt like I wasn’t in the right body, I must be someone else, as this was such an unusual feeling.

I’ve heard from numerous clients over the years about this kind of dramatic switch after using Hypnosis.

That night, rather than racing through the reading, I read my poems in an expressive way. I felt like I was able to give it my all and do my best.

In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would actually enjoy the reading, but here I was, living it.

A Self-Hypnosis Technique For Fear of Public Speaking

Here’s more about the EFT technique I mentioned:

EFT involves tapping on powerful acupressure points while repeating a phrase about what you want to clear or release. It’s based on the premise that every emotional upset causes an imbalance in the body. EFT is able to quickly reduce the emotional charge and reset the nervous system, allowing the body to rebalance and promote healing.

Now this is something you can do on your own (EFT is easy to learn), though sometimes people prefer to learn EFT as one of the Self-Hypnosis techniques during their sessions.

In this way, you can work through the specific concerns and things that trigger you and then clear them with the support of a Hypnotist. Additionally, you’ll learn other Self-Hypnosis techniques you can use to become a successful and eloquent public speaker.

Learn more about what EFT is and how it works, tips to maximize its effectiveness, and additional books and resources.

Public speaking is rarely just about public speaking.

For many high-achieving women, it’s connected to overthinking, perfectionism, self-doubt, fear of being judged, or feeling like you have to get everything right. These same patterns can affect the way you make decisions, lead others, set boundaries, navigate relationships, and show up in every area of your life.

That’s why my work doesn’t focus only on helping you deliver a better presentation. The goal is to help you feel calmer, think more clearly under pressure, and trust yourself more.

I created my virtual one-on-one Soul-Powered Breakthrough Program for high-achieving women who are ready to move beyond overthinking and self-doubt so you can show up with calm confidence at work and in every area of your life.

Work with Me

Here are a few additional resources you may find helpful.

• Uncommon Knowledge offers a range of Hypnosis downloads for many different issues (including public speaking, presenting, and confidence).
• Are You Glossophobic?
• To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking, Stop Thinking About Yourself

Interested in Working Together?

The fear of public speaking isn’t something that you have to live with. Imagine feeling calm and confident, no matter who you’re talking to or the size of your audience.

When you stop worrying about the pressure to get everything right, you create space to think clearly, express yourself with ease, and connect with the people in front of you.

If you’re ready for this kind of support, learn more and apply for my virtual one-on-one Soul-Powered Breakthrough Program.

Continue Exploring Hypnosis

If you’re new to Hypnosis or curious to learn more, the articles below answer some of the questions I hear most often.